The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-05-12

SSlfIb HLlSG
Next to flat culture, and perhaps O
equal Importance, is frequent, light stir
rings Of the surface that q crust ma,
never foAm. Deep plowing by loosoninj
up the soil and exposing il to the al
dries it up rapidly; some farmers thin]
that deep plowing in dry weather bring
moisture up from below and benefits til,
crop. 1t docs bring moist dirt from be
low to tho surface, but this only give
the moisture a better opportunity tt
escape Into the aiY. Plants do not dc
rive auy benefit from it's transfer to tho
surface, Light surface blowing, on tn,
contrary, keeps the moisture in the soil
only shin skim Nt the Eurfaco is made
dryer by the plowing. Tho water from
below Glscs up TO tho layer Of pulverizcd
sou, Tut cannot pass through it into the
ar. 1T acts Ike q mulch; every one
knows that covering OF leaves or straw
keeps tho soil below damp, but mulchino
with leaves on large scale is impractica-
Dle-not SO mulchiDg with puIverized
earth, it IS cheap, practicable, effective.
hcop the sweep wings fiat, but keep
them also moving. Go over tho CROP
one IN every ten days, or oftcner if rain
falls and crust is about to form. Plow-
ing ut long intervals makes Spasmodic
growth OF crop-first fast and then
SLOW. Plow frequently and q steady,
uniform growth ensucs.
The first Of May is u favorable time to
start many OF the crops, generally es-
tecmed side crops, but which deserve
dccldedly more prominence. All the
sorghllms should now be planted. We
urG0 the cultivation of these crOps upon
our readers with great confidence. We
have fully tested the matter on our farm,
ana know tneSC plants to be admirable
Tor certain purposes. We do not pro-
pose to say that they arc wonderful, eX-
ceiilng anything that Was ever heard Of.
Bllt that, like corn, they are useful, and
iiil certain place on the farm most ad-
mlrably. Every one knows that syrup
sorghum ID hardy, productive, q certain
and choaply raised crop. Every farm
CT can raise enough of it to supply his
I&oor2E8 with syrup at very little ex-
pchse. For besides the syrup he gets a
good yield Of fodder and grain. Mules
eau be fed on theso i'll place OF corn and
i0ddcr and ii IS not cXtravagant to sey
that as much stock can be fed from an
acre OF sorghum IS from al acre Of corn.
we nave been III the habit of looking at
sorghum simply as Il syrup-producing
crop. Why not rank it as regular food
crop? The whole heads fed to mulo are
WoIl cheWcd; The grains arc thoroughly
ma&Icated, and we have never 2 whole
seed pass uudigcstcd through an animal.
AS change from continuous corn
ration 1t is highly relishcd by stock, and
Is apparently equally nutritious. Now
here IS q crop which pays for it, cultiva-
ton Ill two distinct prolucts--syrup and
#rHn and fodder. Either of tlirsc pro
ducts will moro than pay the cost Of cul-
nEntton; the other rcmuins as clear
prOtiE. 1t is both q money and a food
crop. But We desire 10 call attention to
sorghum particularly Us food &or hogs.
The early amber cane planted tie first
OF hlay, will be ripe by the first of Au-
gust, and through successive plentings, q
continuous supply Of it may be had from
tho first Of August well into November
nearly, ii not quite, four months. Now,
MS every obsoryant person knows, hogs
eat this plant with avidity. They cy-
5ract all the juice from the stalks, IN adj
dition 70 Getting the grain, AMI faftcn
upon 1t with great rapldity. Many OBJ
Jcct, and very properly, to raising pork
ID,
Here Is substitute, here is Il rCmedy-a
hardy, easily raised, productive crop, ono
that stands drought well, that Will grow
Oh poor land and never fails enb2eiv,
Could cheaper, better hog food be
lound! Almost cVcry one knows this,
DuI how lew take advantage Of it. We
50 on from year to year i'll the same old
ruts, cOniinlng our efforts to corn and
cotton production. Cannot the force OF
mere habit be overcome? Why not cut
down the corn crop a little and plant
sorghum III place of it? Plant enough
10 supply your lGborors with syrup, the
seed and blades to be used rs stock food;
plant still moro 10 feed green 10 hogs
and mich COWS. Three acres of sorghum
will feed and fattcn ten hogs from Au-
gust to November. Compare The cost
OF raising three acres Of sorghum with
the value OF ten hogs whose weight Lai.
been increased fifty to one hundred per
cent. With hardy fruit trees, like
plums, Seeding peaches, wild cherry,
mulbelrles, horse and June apples, with
Bermuda grass, rcd and burr clovcrs,
with early productive varieties Of sweet
potato, like the ST. Domingo, with pcs
patches, and finally sorghum, what hin
del8 Southern farmer from rnisino
pork as cheap rs anybody? Nothing but
! not making up his mind to do SO and
arranging for it. He can do it if he Wills
10 do it.
But the syrup sorghum is not the only
variety which might be profitably cult,
waited. The white seeded varieties. like
milo maize and Kaflir corn arc very
nearly, ii not quite, equal to corn as
ilorso-tecd. We have fully tested the
milo maize; horses eat it with relish,
and can do as much work when fed mon
it as upon corn ration. Neither is il
ut all inconvcnient to handle. The
whole heads are put in the manager,
and tho grain, eaten with the brush ol
yhc head, IS thoroughly masticatcd, The
blades aGo pulled and cured like fodder.
IN above respect ii stands on the same
footing as corn. What arc its advant.
ages? 1t stands drought better and will
make something of crop when corn
would utterly lail. If drought strikes
corn just IS it "shootS," it fais-it can
not wait for future rain. These sorghum
on the contrary, will wait quite patient